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Patented Apr. 16- 1889. I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

I/VILLIAM F. BELTON, OF GREENVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA; JESSE C. BELTON ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID IVILLIAM F. BELTON, DECEASED.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,630, dated April 16, 1889.

Application filed September 27, 1888. Serial No. 286,525. (No model.)

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. BELTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Mercer and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in IVashing-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to improvements in washing-machines, and the novelty will be fully understood from the following descrip tion and claims, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved machine with the rubber orwashboard arranged in a portion of the tub. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rubber or board removed, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the same.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, A indicates the main frame for supporting the operating mechanism of my improved machine. This frame is composed of two sets of vertically-arranged converging beams united by a brace-timber, B, and suitable cross-bars, 0. These cross-bars G are provided on their upper side and about midway of their length with bearings a, which are designed to receive and support the opposite ends of a drive-shaft, D. This drive-shaft is provided with a springactuated drum, E, having an annular groove to receive a treadle-belt, F. This s pring-drum is of the form usually employed to serve in connection with a treadle, and is provided laterally with a pawl, Z, to engage the ratchetteeth of a belt wheel, G, also arranged upon the drive-shaft D in close relation to the said drum. This drive-shaft is furthermore provided with a balance or fly wheel, H, and the spring-drum carrying the pawl is design ed to drive the ratchet belt-wheel G rapidly in one direction.

I indicates a horizontal shaft which is journaled in the upper portion of the main frame and preferably in notched bearings b. This shaft I is provided with a fixed pulley, K, which is designed to receive the drive-belt L, which passes over the ratchet-pulley G and imparts motion thereto. This shaft I is furthermore provided with two crank portions, and between the crankson the said rod is journaled a rubber frame, or, as I shall call it, a wash-board, and the details of construction of this rubber or wash-board I shall now describe.

e is a rectangular frame of elongated form composed of longitudinal parallelbarsf, which are provided with apertures at one end, as shown at g, whereby the said frame may be suspended from the crank-shaft I. These parallel bars f are rabbeted longitudinally on their inner sides, as shown at h, for the purpose of receiving and guiding a rollerframe, M, which has longitudinal bars grooved to serve with the rabbeted portions h of the frame 6 in preventing any lateral displacement of the parts. This frame M is provided with a suitable number of friction-rollers,e', j ournaled transversely therein, as shown, for the purpose of operating upon the clothes to be Washed, and its longitudinal rails or bars are recessed, as shown at Z, and has a suitable number of small friction-rollers, m, journaled therein, so as to ease the movements of the said roller-frame upon the frame 6 during operation.

N indicates pitmen or connecting rods, one end of each being respectively secured to the crank portions (Z, of the shaft I and their opposite ends secured to the reciprocating or roller frame M, so that when motion. has been imparted to the double-crank shaft it will be communicated through the medium of the pit-man to the roller-frame M and the latter driven rapidly back and forth upon the frame 6.

P indicates a confining or clamping frame, which is hinged to the lower end of the frame 6. This hinge-frame is provided with a corrugated board, R, which is designed to be brought upon the roller-frame with clothing interposed, and it has a handle, S, for the grasp of the operator.

From the foregoing description it will be' seen that when the treadle-lever T, which is hinged at one end to a hanger, W, has been manipulated by the foot, motion Will be imparted to the spring-drum through the medium of the belt F, and from thence through the medium of the pawl pivoted laterally to the said drum to the ratchet-wheel G, and from thence through the medium of the endless belt L to the pulley K on the crank-shaft I. Such motion will thence be imparted through the medium of the pitmen N to the reciprocating roller-frame M. It will thus be seen that by placing the frame e in a Washtub and placing a sufficient quantity of clothes upon the roller-frame by simply clamping the said clothes by means of the frame P the operator can perform the Work by simply working the pedal and holding the handle portion S of the said frame P, when the clothes will be thoroughly cleaned without the objectionable necessity of rubbing with the hands or continually placing the hands in the'Water.

Having described my invention, What I claim is 1. In a washing-machine, the combination, With a rotative crank-shaft, of a frame journaled thereon, a reciprocating roller or rubber-frame supported on the said main frame, pitmen connecting the cranks of the said shaft with the reciprocating frame, and a hinged clamping-frame adapted to turn upon the said reciprocating frame, substantially as specified.

2. In a Washing-machine, the combination, with a rotative crank-shaft, a frame journaled thereon, a reciprocating frame supported on the main frame and having friction-rollers and grooves to prevent lateral displacement, the hinged corrugated frame having a handle, and pitmen connecting the cranks of the said shaft with the reciprocating or rubbing frame, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix m y signature in presence of two Witnesses.

W'ILLIAM F. BELTON.

Witnesses:

ANSON T. CLARK, CYRUs J. SOHRE. 

